RP Log: Verdict and Aftermath
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| 2024-01-17 07:50 | |
- Bridge Conference Room <USS Excelsior NCC-170100>
- This slightly curving room is used primarily by the captain and the department heads to stage meetings. The central feature is the large, glossy black table that curves along with the perimeter of the room. Set into the deck alongside a viewport that stretches across one bulkhead, this eight-seater table contains advanced holographic technology as well as a small control panel at each seat. The head of the table is indicated by a larger panel, a small personal monitor built into the desk and the high backed chair positioned behind it. A large LCARS panel is built into the far bulkhead, and their are two light-blue doors set into the bulkhead opposite the viewports. The whole room is bathed by a soft glow from the overhead lighting panels.
An aide calls out, "This court is about to resume. Please take your places."
T'Shaav moves forward, taking her place in the prosecution's chair.
Svetzvani chooses a spot nearby, but out of the way. She's not an active member of these proceedings, after all. Just an observer.
deGrut files in with Kemper and Sutil. They take their places and deGrut nods to the aide to ring the bell. Once the sounds quiet, she calls, "Commander Coil, front and center."
Coil rises and moves to stand before the brass, standing at attention and continuing to remain impassive.
Svetzvani clasps her hands together, trying not to ring them nervously.
Sutil glares at Coil and shoots looks at deGrut and Kemper, obviously not the happiest Cardassian in the quadrant.
Kemper rises to his feet and addresses all present.
"We have deliberated diligently since closing arguments were issued in this matter," Kemper begins. He lifts his brow and exhales heavily before continuing. "It is undisputed the accused ended the life of the decedent. This tribunal was convened to determine the accused's intent in taking such an act, while also considering the exigent circumstances surrounding the victim's death." He pauses for a moment to survey the room and pull at the hem of his dress uniform tunic. "This panel has been unable to reach a unanimous conclusion as to whether or not Mister Coil's actions and intent meet the requisite standards for a conviction under the relevant civilian and military statutes for second degree murder or first degree manslaughter. We have, however, concluded the accused's actions represent conduct unbecoming an officer even though such charges were not levied by the prosecution, as is our right and obligation to consider a variety lesser charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and we similarly have concluded Mister Coil is no longer fit to be in the service." The Vice Admiral pauses momentarily, in case there is any reaction from assembled members of the gallery. "Consequently, it is the judgment of this tribunal that Lieutenant Commander Coil be administratively discharged from the service, effective immediately. It is so ordered." The gavel is rapped against the knocking block once.
The Vulcan captain evinces, naturally, no visible response. She waits where she sits, just in case it's not over.
Sutil can be seen grinding his teeth as he hears the judgement.
Svetzvani takes in a long breath, then lets it out slowly. Betazoids would probably be able to detect her internal conflict between something that seems unfair, but also could have been way, way worse.
Coil bows his head in acknowledgement of the decision, remaining standing there impassively and silently.
"Before we adjourn, I feel an obligation to admonish the prosecution for its overly zealous pursuit of this case," Kemper says, leveling a cool gaze toward T'Shaav. "At more than one point, the representative of the state made claims wholly unsupported by the facts, and, indeed, that defy logic." A beat. "I expect better from personnel who serve in a command capacity, and, were it not for the fact the Captain is a Vulcan," he says, gesturing toward T'Shaav, "I would have no choice but to believe such pursuits were in service of settling an extra-judicial dispute or vendetta." Another beat. "We stand adjourned." Kemper raps the gavel on the knocking block once and, himself, rises as the aide rings the bell closing out the court martial.
Coil turns from the head of the room and heads for the exit himself, his shoulders slumping at last.
Kemper and Sutil file out of the room as deGrut moves to approach T'Shaav, "Captain, we will need to meet before I return to Lya Station." She gives a sniff as she looks in the direction Kemper and Sutil departed in.
T'Shaav doesn't appear to respond visibly to the admiral's chiding. She meets his gaze, and he would see her mind reviewing, at lightning speed, her report and remarks. She cannot find anything illogical or inaccurate in her remarks to the court, so she dismisses the comments as due to emotion from Kemper's having commanded Coil and herself. Standing, she walks towards Coil. "Excuse me, Mr. Coil," she says quietly. "May I have a moment?" As she is now addressing a civilian, she uses an appropriate tone.
T'Shaav hears the admiral's comment as she is speaking, and she stops and turns back, "Understood, sir."
Coil turns and looks at T'Shaav, "Yes, T'Shaav?" He may be in uniform for the last time since he hasn't had time to remove it, but no longer needs ranks.
Svetzvani gets quickly to her feet and follows the others out, her gaze locked on Sutil. She follows him out.
Coil shrugs, "The deck was stacked against me, Captain. Anything else I could've presented would have been unsubstantiated and could have been interpreted in the worst way possible. I got a better result than I could have expected."
"A logical, and unfortunately accurate analysis, under the circumstances." She raises her right hand. "Peace, and long life, Kellen Coil."
Coil nods, "Thank you, T'Shaav."
T'Shaav nods and makes her way back towards the branch admiral. "Admiral," she says quietly, "I am at your disposal if you wish to speak now. Or later, if not, sir."
- Commander's Office <Deep Space 9>
- The Commander's office is raised slightly from the Operations Center, giving the Commander a view down into it. A leftover from the Cardassian design to whom the station was first built by.
- The office is separated into two primary sections. The foremost is occupied by a large desk behind which is a viewport out into space. The desk is a fairly good size with display screens built right into the top of it. The Commander's chair is on the far side next to the window, with a couple smaller chairs on the door side of the desk.
- Off to the side of the office section of the compartment is a small bench seat opposite a food replicator. A more relaxing spot for casual conversations. Much like the rest of the station, the decor is simple, with grey carpets, edged with a greyish blue. The walls are a tan colour, most have been outfitted with LCARS panels for computer access.
T'Shaav is in her office, at her desk, reviewing items on two pads as she waits. As her door opens without announcement, she sets the work aside and stands. "Admiral," she greets.
deGrut walks into the office, looking older than she usually does, "Captain."
The Vulcan answers after a quiet beat. Perhaps she has things on her own mind. "I am pleased the board did not sentence Mr. Coil to prison."
deGrut sniffs, "It should never have gotten this far, Captain." She moves to take a seat on the bench, "I had hoped that you would disprove their evidence and failing that, defend Mr. Coil. Instead, you nearly walked right into their trap."
T'Shaav takes a seat across from you. She steeples her fingers and considers. "I was not asked to defend Mr. Coil. But I had much time to consider what defense he might have made. In truth, sir, I had hoped to find some defect in the evidence, some sign of forgery or tampering or insufficiency. But I could not."
"You missed something in your investigation that almost sent him to the penal colony," deGrut points out. "Why wasn't the fact that the Kalean was also armed not discovered in your investigation?"
"Because I failed to ask the right question," T'Shaav says. "They gave us what we asked for. Not what we did not." She seems to consider adding something, but holds her peace.
deGrut gives a sharp nod, "Exactly, Captain. Remember this for your next investigation." She sighs, "Grand-Gul Sutil isn't happy with the decision, but he did get Mr. Coil's career ended. There were things that you didn't turn up that I think he was hoping Mr. Coil would put forth as a defense that he could pounce on." She shakes her head, "Do you know if Mr. Coil was aware of that?"
"I do not know," the Vulcan says. "But, may I ask a question, off the record, as it were?"
deGrut gives the Vulcan a piercing look, "All of this is off the record, Mr. T'Shaav. Do you think the Cardassians would be happy if they found that I had given you the investigation for a different purpose than what happened?"
"Indeed not," the Vulcan says. "You said when you gave me this assignment that there was more to it than appeared. And you have reiterated that point about what I failed to discover." A beat. "So between us, what did I not discover, Admiral? What else was, is, happening here?"
"Why now? Why Mr. Coil?" deGrut asks in return. "Your calling out Sutil's involvement at the start of the trial almost ruined the whole thing, but your oversight convinced Sutil that you weren't favorable towards Mr. Coil. Plus it should've caused whatever defense he was hoping for to have been brought forth."
"I would only be guessing, which I do not prefer to do," the Vulcan says. "But it occurred to me that the Cardassians were hoping to remove a science officer from the service who knew about their recent illegal weapons experimentation, the matters the Buran was ultimately sent to stop." A beat. "And since they were not worried about their illegalities coming to light, it is possible that Sutil and his ilk feel themselves poised to resume control of Cardassia, ousting the current, Federation-friendly DeTapa Counsel."
deGrut sniffs, "I doubt it's that, given how closely they're being watched, Captain. Though it is something to consider." She shakes her head, "I get the feeling it might be more personal. Didn't Mr. Coil help embarrass the Military enough that they set a trap for him? Was Sutil involved in that?"
T'Shaav considers. "There was an intelligence operation some years ago, before the Buran's mission. I recall that he did report a personal encounter with Sutil and some of his officers that might have been embarrassing." A beat. "I suppose it is possible that Sutil waited for such an opportunity for so many years. But I find that hard to believe, as it puts so much of the Cardassians' operations at risk of exposure. It does not seem sufficient as an explanation. But it is possible."
deGrut barks a laugh, "Mr. Coil does have a tendency to gain long festering enemies. The recent attack on him shows that the Cardassians aren't the only ones who forgot him." She gets to her feet, "I'm sure Admiral Kemper will speak with you if he feels it's necessary, but the key incident involving the missing evidence was fueled his comments as far as I am aware. Unless he has access to information that I wasn't given." She sniffs at that.
T'Shaav sighs almost, though not quite, inaudibly. "I have never claimed to be perfect, Admiral, and I endeavor to admit my mistakes. That said, I can think of nothing that was based on emotion in anything I wrote or said. I evaluated the evidence and presented my findings, nothing more than what the evidence suggested." A beat. "He was our captain when Phoenix was commissioned. He was in command when we discovered the Antiedum, our original brief. It disturbs me that he found my conduct so unsatisfactory. Though he may find the entire thing unsatisfactory generally. It was."
deGrut looks over at the Vulcan, "I would not dwell on that, Mr. T'Shaav. This was theater. Admiral Kemper and I are aware of that, even if no one else was. Just let it go, and everything will work out right." She sniffs, "And if your former crewmate should ever mention anything of interest, as he did more than once while you were under my Command, I'm sure there won't be any undue notice will be taken."
"Noted, sir, I thank you," she says. "Also, you may have seen that I am ordered to Spacedock to report to Fleet Medical. It has to do with one of the final missions I participated in as Captain Shulon's first officer. I will report, but only when I am certain the station can spare me for that duration, sir."
"Deep Space Nine is your command, Mr. T'Shaav," deGrut says as she heads for the exit. "I trust you will do your duty with your usual dedication."
The Vulcan stands to see you out. "I shall indeed. Good day, Admiral."